Spider Wasp and Huntsman Spider from Australia: Fourth example in a month!!!!!

danielj

January 22nd, 2007 at 1:00 am

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HELP
Hello,
Can you please help me. I have attached a photograph taken in my mothers backyard and was wondering if you could identify the bug that was eating yes eating the huntsman spider. It is an Australian animal (sydney, australia). We have children around the house and wanted to know if it was harmfull the the children and the name of the insect. Any help would be fantastic. Thank you in advance.
Sonia

spider wasp prey australia Spider Wasp and Huntsman Spider from Australia: Fourth example in a month!!!!!

Hi Sonia,
This is the fourth example of a Spider Wasp, Cryptocheilus bicolor, preying on a Huntsman Spider we have received in the last month. The wasp does not eat the spider. She digs a hole and buries the spider after laying an egg. The larval wasp then has a fresh meal of paralyzed spider meat since the spider is alive and in a coma. Spider Wasps have a painful sting, but they are not aggressive.